Five Top Tips for Working from Home

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the clinical negligence team have been working from home for a number of weeks now.  This has brought with it many challenges, however, we have all found ways to adapt to our new working environments to ensure that we can continue to offer clients the best possible service.

While I appreciate everyone works differently, I have put together my five top tips for working from home effectively.

1. Get ready for the day

I have found that getting ready for the day as I normally would if I was going into the office has helped me to get into the work mindset while at home.  I am not suggesting putting on your best suit – it’s still important to be comfortable – but making yourself look presentable is a good first step towards a productive day. 

2. Have a dedicated working space

It is really important to have a dedicated space where you work for the day.  I have found that working from a desk makes a huge difference to my productivity.  Sitting on your sofa may seem appealing at first, but it makes it difficult to get into a normal work mindset.  As my dedicated working space is in my living room, I have also found it helpful to put away my laptop and other work equipment at the end of the day in order to separate “work-life” from “home life”.

3. Structure your day

I have found it hugely helpful to structure my day as I would if I was in the office.  I start work just before 9am, take a lunch break of around one hour at 12.30pm and aim to finish my work by around 5pm.  This keeps a level of “normality” in what is otherwise a very unusual situation.  It may be tempting to work well beyond your usual working hours as there is not much else to do at the moment, but it is really important to allow yourself time to wind down in the evening.

4. Stay connected

While the majority of our work can be done “solo”, it is important to keep in contact with your colleagues.  This might be to discuss a work-related question or it could simply be to chat about how your day has gone.  The clinical negligence team have made a real effort to have regular team meetings via video call and this has helped to boost team morale.

5. Utilise your daily exercise allowance

As we are currently only allowed to leave our homes for very specific reasons, I have found that my daily walk or run is something I really look forward to.  I try to go for a 30-minute run or an hour’s walk each day after 5 pm.  This really helps to clear my head and usually marks the end of my working day.  I appreciate that not everyone is allowed to leave their home, if for example they are considered to be in one of the vulnerable groups, and so I do not take this privilege for granted!